Armies on Parade 2025 has wrapped, and it feels like the perfect victory lap for a stacked year of Warhammer releases.
This is the big one for hobby nerds: full armies, themed boards, and paint jobs that make your backlog silently judge you. Building and painting a cohesive force is already hard; presenting it on a custom display board is another level entirely. This year hundreds of entries came in across four main categories, plus a staff bracket. Consequently, the judging team had to grind through an absurd amount of talent to pick their winners and special shout outs.
Solo, Team, and Youngbloods – Big Ideas at Every Scale
The Solo Entrant category was topped by James Taro, who basically showed everyone what “small scale flex” really means. His Legions Imperialis Titans are so meticulously painted that you could easily mistake them for full size God Engines in photos. Moreover, the freehand, transfers, blending, and weathering all play together like a Golden Demon highlight reel, which makes sense since many of the pieces have already won demons on their own. Seeing them united as a single army pushes the whole thing into “museum display” territory.
The Team category went to Alexander and Ciara Brett, who delivered a glorious Ork Waaagh filled with looted gear and smart conversions. The judges especially loved the bold, saturated colors that make every model stand out from the backdrop. Additionally, the careful use of checkerboard patterns across the force pulls everything together visually, so the army feels loud but still cohesive. It reads like a proper Ork junkyard carnival, in the best possible way.
Youngbloods first place went to Atherley, who showed a surprisingly mature handle on texture and materials. Armour, cloth, metals, and organic surfaces all read clearly just from paint choices. Moreover, they kept a desaturated tone across lots of reds, oranges, blues, and greens, which is very easy to mess up. Instead, the whole army feels unified and atmospheric, which is wild for a younger painter.
Armies on Terrain and Staff – Building Whole Worlds
Armies on Terrain is where the “it looks like a film still” entries usually live, and this year was no exception. Alexis Bonnaire took first with a swampy board that feels like a complete, believable world rather than just “models in front of scenery.” The green environment frames the army, while a pinkish red palette on the miniatures makes them pop cleanly from the murky background. Furthermore, the painting has an artsy, almost painterly feel, with bold volumes and visible brushstrokes that sell light and form rather than just smooth blends.
The Staff category was claimed by Elliot Stenson with an Idoneth Deepkin force rising out of the sea. The whole army feels wet, textured, and alive. The Akhelian Allopexes have stippled skin that reads like real creature hide, while the howdahs and shells have pearlescent, shifting surfaces. The judges loved seeing different sea creatures treated with new schemes and approaches across the army and the bases. Additionally, it feels like a fresh spin on Idoneth rather than just the standard box art taken to eleven.
Judges’ Choice – Extra Love for Standout Armies
Beyond the trophies, the judges called out several armies that demanded extra attention. Dan chose Tommy’s Aeldari, a force emerging from a central point as if stepping out of the webway mid assault. The composition sells motion and intent, and the painting is packed with non metallic sections, intricate freehand, and a strikingly unique color scheme. Moreover, the Wraithknight centerpiece is a full on billboard for freehand skills.
Fletcher highlighted multiple entries, including Martin’s army with its obsessive consistency from custom bases to spear tips and helmet plumes. The blue and pink armour on Avalenor stands out as a gorgeous centerpiece, saturated yet never garish. Fletcher also praised Timothy’s full non metallic metal force, where deep reds and complementary greens give the army a powerful, high contrast look. Additionally, the green OSL on the terrain, with visible yet controlled brushstrokes, gives the whole display an art print vibe.
Adam’s pick, Bartlomiej’s Aeldari diorama, balances originality, theme, and technical skill. Striking Scorpions move through an almost tranquil scene that still feels dangerous thanks to all the chainswords. Meanwhile, Ed spotlighted Casey’s Iyanden army for its blend of airbrush work and meticulous hand painted chipping, the kind of force you would actually want to throw down with on game night. He also praised Tomasz’s board for strong armour blends, clean highlights, and great little touches like girders instead of flight stands and detailed fortress terrain with banners and signage that match the army.
Summary
Armies on Parade 2025 shows just how far the community can push plastic, paint, and foam board. Solo entrants delivered competition level work at every scale, teams pulled off sprawling themed projects, and Youngbloods proved the next generation is already terrifyingly good. Moreover, the Terrain and Staff categories reminded everyone that a great army feels even better when it lives in a fully realized world. Even if your own entry did not place, the event is clearly a celebration of participation as much as podiums. So take these boards as fuel, steal a few ideas, and start sketching next year’s display, because the bar just went up again.
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